The Mandevillian, 1988, Vol3, No2

Page 1

MDEVILLIAN Registered by Australia Post, Publication Number VBH 7636 Vol 3, No 2, May 1988

THE RUMOUR IS

Board. It is little wonder that she took the

ALIVE ...

entire organisation of this year's

- ANNE MUIRHEAD Dancing with the boys at Turana Youth Training Centre; tallying the scores via mental arithmetic at countless sports

meetings wearing the green of Mornane;

settin up a Physics Prac long before the

arrival ot the Mandeville mases, the lone;

loyal guitarist at every Thursday Eucharist...these are just a few of the myriad of images that I carry with me of mv

teacher, friend and colleague - Sr Efizabeth Donnan, IBVM.

of past and present pupils, staff members and friends of Loreto, a special tribute of thanks to Sr Elizabeth, who has finished at

Toorak after eleven years of extraordinary service. Herself a past pupil of Mandeville, Sr Elizabeth rekindled her association with

Toorak in 1977 and since that time has been

a veritable dynamo in and out of the

classroom. Although Sr Elizabeth runs the most tangential meetings, had the most chaotic-looking work area in the staff room and even turned up late to Hawthorn for

TO BE A PILGRIM

Mass earlier in the year after having spent twenty minutes looking for her glasses, she is the ultintate "behind-the-scenes"

organiser. During her time at Mandeville, Sr

- DEIRDRE ROFE I.B.V.M. PR INCIPAL

Elizabeth must have organised and run well over a hundred camps for senior R.E. classes and recent past pupils, she virtually built the

John Bunyan's Christian classic Pilgrim's Progress inspired the writing of a wellknown hymn, "To be a Pilgrim". In preparation for the Mass at Yulara on 23rd

April, the school learnt the hymn which, with its resounding refrain, became one of the themes of our journey. What did it mean for us "to be a pilgrim"? It meant that we approached the 11 days away together with a special attitude. We were no

ordinary tourists, "doing the Centre". Rather we would travel - conscious of our

ignorance of this vast land and our

inexperience in the ways of the world of the Aborigines. We were also aware that we

washing machines of the Alice Travellers Village. We were moving fast but the land exercised a strong fascination over all of us. Our large group moved through vast stretches of land, leaving no impression; rather the impression was made on us. This awareness was strengthened by the

unique experience of being "one in mind

and heart'. It was this aspect which earned

Aboriginal community one of the most

the expedition the name of pilgrimage - we journeyed miles as a school community and

therefore, with a sense of unease, anxious to

as individuals.

be reconciled and hopeful that in the short

As we were well aware, the journey was not

time we had, we could strike a new

without risk. Many of us, before the event, spared more than a passing thought as to what might happen. It was our awareness of God's providence and the finely tuned organization which enabled us all to accept

"Not only did I make new friends within the

the risk involved. We felt confident that the

school, but I feel now I am able to call

ties that existed in the Loreto school

myself a true Australian with a much greater

knowledge of our country and its people."

community were strong enough to face the risk and also the consequences. It is a

(Year 11 student)

blessing that this trust was not misplaced.

"Two things which highlighted our trip were

Pilgrims of old had to contend with attacks from brigands, illness often unto death and

the meeting with the Aborinal children and "The Rock Concert". I tound the

a motley group of companions. The worst

Aboriginal people extremely friendly and they were eager to find out how we lived."

attacks we faced were from the flies; any

(Year 10 student)

"The trip we made to the Centre of our land, Australia, has taught me the true meaning of the saying 'The Aborigines don't

illness was speedily halted by the skilled medical team and somehow, miraculously, our "motley" became strangely harmonized into seventeen strongly affiliated groups,

own the land, the land owns the

composed of people of all ages and interests. To belong to Bus 17, to name just

Aborigines'. The Aborigines see no need to stake out their land or display 'Keep Out'

was an identity!

signs." (Year 7 student)

To be a pilgrim meant to be on the move. In

one, was not just an organizational tag. It Many stories have been shared, photos exchanged, and reunions organized. What

a very short space of time, we became quite

occurred in our school between 17 - 27

skilled at erecting a tent citv and within half

April is the tip of the iceberg. It was long in

an hour sitting down to a three course meal. In an equally short space of time, we could strike camp, with tents folded flat and bed

immeasurable faith in young people. In her Summary at the 1986 Loreto Education Conference, Sr Elizabeth inadvertantly

described herself: "For many young people, the school is becoming the most significant experience of Church. The witness of the various manifestations does much to reinforce the rumour that God is alive".

A delightful story from the recent pilgrimage encapsulates the powerful witness of Sr Elizabeth - a student in

describing where she had found God during the journey to the Centre, said she had seen God present in Sr Elizabeth. Thank you Lizzie, for the love you extend to your students, for your interest in those of us who have moved beyond the walls of Mandeville, for your comitment to the young and to the future - so evident in your compassion towards the young men at Turana. In response to all that you have given us, we offer you our prayers and

long-distance support as you experience the next stage of your own pilgrimage on tertianship in Kenya.

Thank you for keeping the rumour of God alive!

new P.E. Centre and has held key positions

the families who prayed at home. We shared

intentioned efforts, has left the Australian

wrote:

Sr Elizabeth's untiring and cheerful giving, without stopping to count the cost, must always be seen in the context of her

for land and identity. This solidarity in prayer was supplemented most tangibly by with the early Christian community that

can only quote what some of the students

Donnan.

the traditions of all pilgrims, we prayed - for a safe journey, for a deeper appreciation of the gift of this glorious country, for a spirit of understanding of the Aboriginal desire

majority, part of a system that despite well-

relationship between black and white. Who can judge whether this was achieved? We

even seemed to thrive on the process, earning the affectionate title - Brigadier

daily period of prayer and reflection. True to

were, as members of the white Australian

deprived groups in the world. We came,

Bicentennial Pilgrimage in her stride and

members of our school communities in its

It is with a deep sense of love and gratitude that I record, on behalf of literally thousands F

on al! schoc! Faicy bedic: ar ' tl- 0 Institutes's Central Education Advisory

the preparing: I suspect that it will be long

in the memory of each of us. At a more

rolls neatly piled. And so into the coach -for

significant level, I believe it has shaped our consciousness quite profoundly. Despite our

the next few hundred kilometres. We

differences, we know we can live and work

learned to cope with the misty coldness of an early morning on the Murray, with the

and play together. What remarkable

dusty starkness of Coober Pedy and so to

foresight the present Year 12 group showed when they chose as our theme for the year

appreciate all the more the green lawns and

"We are Family"!

Sr Elizabeth in Kenya

The Bicentennial Pilgrimage The Bicentennial Pilgrimage to Central Australia must have been the event of the

year for the Senior School! We felt that it would be appropriate if we devoted a considerable portion of this Mandevillian to articles and photos on this incredible achievement. We have selected a number of

different pieces of writing about the

Pilgrimage. There are articles or essays by students, excerpts from parents' letters, reflections by members of staff, volunteers and strangers. We hope that you will be able to share with us the extraordinary experience which was the Loreto Bicentennial Pilgrimage.


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